Integrated Bird Control System to get rid of pest pigeons from a 14-story, one-million-square-foot building. For buildings of this size, one product will not always work. Some of the solutions that were incorpo-rated included: On window ledges and parapet walls that were nesting and roosting areas, they installed an electric track system to get rid of the pest pigeons. These systems give the birds a mild jolt when they come into contact with the track. The birds will leave the area for a more suitable one. Bird netting was used to exclude the pest pigeons from entering large bal-conies. It would have been impossible to use a physical bird deterrent on all of the places that the pigeons were landing on, so the bird netting was chosen to exclude them completely from the balconies. On the building ledges, a bird slope system was installed to keep the pest birds from landing. This type of sys-tem creates a slope on the ledge that makes it impossible for the birds to land. When the slope is installed, it creates a 45-degree angle that the birds “slide” off of. The maintenance staff at United Regional Health Care had been struggling with pigeons for years, and now pest birds are nowhere to be found. A Cost-savings Investment The money saved in cleanup costs and damage repairs is well worth the invest-ment in bird control products. Most building managers find that they make up the cost within the first year of installation. Once installed, most pest bird control systems are easy to maintain. Visual inspections of netting and physical deterrents, as well as voltage tests to elec-tric tracks, should be done routinely. Urban bird control is becoming big busi-ness in the United States. Companies across the country are spe-cializing in bird exclusion installations. Other companies such as pest control, maintenance, window cleaning and roofing companies are adding bird control to their offerings. A custom integrated bird control program, once installed, can save companies mil-lions of dollars in cleanup and maintenance costs each year. It will also enhance their public image since clean buildings make a much better impression on customers and patrons than buildings with pest birds and feces. CM Fran Prisco has been in the bird control industry for over eight years. Her work with Bird-B-Gone has included product development, web and ad design and public relations. She lives in southern California and enjoys numerous outdoor activities, including running, golfing, biking and more. Fran also volunteers for many community services and plays an active role in her church. To reach Fran Prisco or Bird-B-Gone, you can e-mail her at [email protected] or call 1-800-392-6915 Circle Product Information no. 201 on page 32 www.cmmonline.com 41
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